Bayonetta isn’t one for sticking to conventions, and PlatinumGames’ follow-up to the excellent Bayonetta 3 is definitely a major departure. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is an isometric action-adventure that weaves a downright wholesome storybook tale while focusing more on unique mechanics, exploration, and puzzle solving than the franchise’s usual high-intensity action.
So, does Bayonetta make a graceful leap to a new genre? Or is this odd concoction best returned to the cauldron? I’ve had the opportunity to play through the first five chapters of Bayonetta Origins (amounting to around six hours of gameplay in total), allowing me to get a solid feel for most of the game’s mechanics. Scroll on for the first impressions.
Bayonetta Origins casts players as a young witch named Cereza, who presumably becomes the gun-heels-wielding badass we’re more familiar with. Cereza is the product of a Lumen Sage father and Umbra Witch mother, a pairing that’s frowned upon by the powers that be. As a result, Cereza’s father is exiled and her mother is imprisoned. Cereza attempts to rescue her mother, but fails, and thus takes up training with an outcast Umbra Witch named Morgana in order to increase her power.
Everything changes when an ethereal boy comes to Cereza in a dream and says that if she follows a mysterious white wolf into the heart of the Avalon Forest, she’ll gain the power to save her mother. Ah, but the Avalon Forest is full of tricksy faeries and Cereza soon finds herself lost and in peril. Thankfully, she encounters a demon that possesses her stuffed cat, Cheshire. Together the two set off to track down the white wolf and escape Avalon Forest.
Bayonetta Origins’ story is a fairly stark departure from previous entries in the series. This tale is strictly PG, which is definitely the right choice considering the game stars a child, but there’s also a lot less of the general cheekiness and fourth-wall-breaking Bayonetta games are also known for. This game takes itself surprisingly seriously. Again, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as the story has been well told thus far, with the relationship between Cereza and Cheshire being well built up. Just know what you’re getting into. I’ll also say I have no real sense at this point whether Bayonetta Origins will connect to the rest of the series in any particularly satisfying way or if this is basically just a standalone storybook tale within the larger Bayonetta multiverse (yes, there’s a Bayonetta multiverse now).
While I’m still slightly unsure about Bayonetta Origins’ story, there’s no questioning its presentation. This is one of the most stylish Nintendo-published games on the Switch, featuring visuals reminiscent of early-20th-century Art-Nouveau-inspired children’s books. Cutscenes, presented as a series of static illustrations, do feel a bit low-budget, but overall, this is a rather lovely game to look at. It also sounds nice, with a rich fantasy score and solid voice acting.
Bayonetta Origins’ gameplay is every bit as unexpected as its story and world. The core concept here is that you control Cereza with the left Joy-Con and Cheshire with the right Joy-Con (or the left and right sides of a Switch Pro Controller, as I did). Technically, there’s nothing stopping you from splitting the Joy-Cons with a friend and playing co-op, but the game is primarily presented as a single-player game where you control two characters simultaneously.
While in combat, Cheshire does most of the heavy lifting, dispatching enemies with his claws and a variety of special moves, depending on what form he takes. Cereza mostly plays support, as she can bind enemies so Cheshire can take them out. Aside from that, Cereza’s main objective is just to stay alive – while Cheshire can be temporarily knocked out by enemies, it’s only Game Over if Cereza’s life bar is depleted.
Outside of combat, Cereza and Cheshire both have specialties that help them explore the environment. Cereza can awaken certain objects with her magic, slip under gates, and toss Cheshire (in toy form) to higher ledges. Cheshire can break through barriers and switch between forms to interact with the environment – the plant version of Cheshire can latch onto anchor points using vines, the earth version can ground pound through cracked floors, and so on (there are four variations of Cheshire in total).
As much as I’d like to report Bayonetta Origins’ has some secret sauce that really make its quirky mechanics sing, it’s not really the case. Even after a half-dozen hours with the game, controlling two characters at once doesn’t feel that natural. I still frequently forget which character I’m controlling or accidentally leave Cheshire behind as I’m exploring with Cereza.
Thankfully, it seems like PlatinumGames realizes Bayonetta Origins’ mechanics are a bit difficult to grasp. Combat isn’t that demanding by Platinum standards – I haven’t died yet, or even come close. And if you have more trouble than me, you can always whip up some extra healing potions using the game’s generous crafting system. Environmental puzzles sometimes require a bit more coordination, but most of them let you figure things out at your own pace.
The exception to this are the game’s “Tír na Nóg” sections. Every so often, you’ll happen on parts of the map that have been consumed by darkness and in order to dispel it, you’ll have to complete a Tír na Nóg stage, which are essentially free-standing challenges somewhat similar to Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s shrines. Some of these are straightforward combat challenges, some are puzzle-focused, while others are more complex tests of your ability to control Cereza and Cheshire at the same time. While more demanding than what you’ll face in the rest of the game, at least thus far, these Tír na Nóg stages haven’t been too frustrating or unfair. Hopefully, that remains the case.
While I’m not entirely sold on the “control two characters at once” premise, I’ve still found my time with Bayonetta Origins compelling. Finding your way through Avalon Forest is fairly easy (glowing white wolf tracks guide you everywhere you need to go), but there are plenty of secrets and rewards to find if you’re brave enough to stray off the marked path. The game’s systems also offer more depth than you might initially anticipate, as both Cereza and Cheshire have full skill trees full of unlockable moves and perks. Add Cheshire’s different forms to the mix, and there are a lot of potential combat and puzzle-solving combinations to explore. Will Bayonetta Origins remain fresh and engaging all the way until its end credits? We’ll see. Platinum isn’t exactly known for their restraint, so hopefully, they don’t try to stretch this concept beyond its limits.
Current Thoughts on Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon isn’t your typical PlatinumGames product. While its core mechanics aren’t as precise and well-honed as you might expect, the game largely gets by on its elegant visuals, heartfelt storytelling, and unusually careful and forgiving level design. I still have more to play, but thus far, Bayonetta Origins’ spell over me is holding strong.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon launches on Nintendo Switch on March 17. You can expect Wccftech’s full review closer to launch.
